Only last week an Essex University-led study concluded masts do not cause harmful short-term health effects. But anti-mast campaigners have criticised its findings as skewed.

The report of Sefton’s health committee working group, which was headed by Cllr Brenda Porter and included Meols ward Cllr John Dodds, followed a full 12 months of meetings from February, 2005. Witnesses included residents, academics, representatives from the telecoms industry and NHS, and John Pugh, Southport’s MP.

The report’s key recommendations include:

Lobby the government to fully adopt the recommendations of officially commissioned reports which called for a ‘precautionary approach’ on the issue – including limiting children’s mobile use.

Lobby MPs to support a backbench planning Bill before parliament on October 19, which would allow greater local control over masts and other developments.

Use existing local authority powers to encourage ‘mast sharing’ between telecoms companies.

Lobby the government to consider amending planning policy guidelines to introduce an agreed ‘safe distance’ between masts and homes, schools and hospitals.

For the Essex University study, 44 volunteers who say they are sensitive to electronic equipment were asked whether they could detect radiation under ‘double blind’ test conditions – meaning no one involved knew whether or not radiation was really being emitted. No more of the 44 answered correctly than would be expected by chance.